The Le Bons Bay Picnic
Le Bons Bay is a tiny beach and farming community on the Banks Peninsula. Sleepy is a great way to describe it, apart from New Years Day when suddenly cars arrive from all over the Peninsula, converging on the Domain for the annual Le Bons Bay Picnic.
Starting at 1pm in the afternoon, there is time to recover from New Year … [Read more...]

Denise Carnihan is a Kiwi living on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, whose heart has been touched by Africa. She has written a book on her Africa story called "I Share My Heart With Africa".
As a result of the book, she then started her own tour business taking small group tours to Kenya, for interaction and a little bit of work at the school, and all the … [Read more...]

Anyone who follows their Facebook page will know that women are raving about the trips they have done with Womens Adventures NZ
Debbie Goldingham has built a fabulous network of women who love and adventure. Many trips are day trips from Auckland, so excellent for those who live there - canyoning, fishing kayaking...
Don't feel left out if you do not live in … [Read more...]

Yes this is happening in New Zealand - come to one of these screenings.
I will be at the 8.30 one in Christchurch on 22 November - anyone want to join me?
Starting in Auckland on November 8 and finishing in Christchurch on 22 November 2018.
The aim of the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour is to connect like-minded women and build a community of supportive adventurous … [Read more...]

Okarito is just north of Franz Josef on the West Coast of New Zealand. These days it is a sleepy seaside village with just 35 permanent inhabitants. It has known former life as a key area for Maori food gathering, and in 1866 it had 1500 residents during the height of the gold rush.It is the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand, and a spectacular inland … [Read more...]

Okarito is on the West Coast of the South Island, south of Hokitika and just north of Franz Josef. It is the home of the beautiful Kotuku - white heron, and we are off there for a few days to see the have a break, see the herons and have a kayak. Want to know where to stay at Okarito? Find out here
Okarito Lagoon is the largest unmodified wetland in New … [Read more...]

I think we made a great choice with Muri Beach Cottages - three small cottages each with their own view to Muri Lagoon, private but close to facilities and shops at Muri
a smaller one on the water - you need to be able bodied to cope with a ladder to bed, but the view is amazing - nothing between you and the lagoon.
another more spacious one with a lovely … [Read more...]

The roads are flat - less than an hour to circle the island by motorised vehicle. Narrow roads, with not a lot of passing opportunities, but no one seems in a hurry, and they take care around bikes and scooters.
Hire a Scooter
If you do not have a bike endorsement on your licence, you will need a local one. Locals do not wear helmets, but tourists do - … [Read more...]

There are two main centres on the island - Avarua, near the Airport and Muri Lagoon on the other side of the island. The latter is the special snorkelling spot and on the recommendation of friends, it was where we were to be based - it was a good decision.
We arrived on Friday night in the dark at Muri Beach Cottages, but the roar of the surf nearby was almost deafening. … [Read more...]

A drive out on the Otago Peninsula is a must on any visit to Dunedin, and the weather should not put you off. Today is cold misty day, cloud wrapping low over the hills. It is moody and brooding, a day when views are glimpsed through breaks in the cloud.
I decide to take the road along the tops, and am treated by glimpses of quiet bays on the harbour side peaking … [Read more...]